Home Guard Records now on Forces War Records

What exciting news ….. Forces War Records have just put online 40,000+ Home Guard Officers Records. People of a “certain age” will remember fondly the tv programme Dad’s Army with Captain Mainwaring, Sergeant Jones and “stupid boy”!! However recent research has shown that the Home Guard was made up of a larger number of young men than first thought. These Home Guard were either too young, in reserved occupations or not fit enough for active service. The men, young and old, who made up the Home Guard were a valuable asset to the defence of the United Kingdom, if there had been an invasion they would have been called upon to undertake dangerous operations to repel the enemy. We may have enjoyed the humour of Captain Mainwaring and his platoon, but in reality it was a serious business.

The Home Guard records are usually enrolment forms, award recommendations and cabinet papers and date from 1940 – 1944. These records have been transcribed and indexed so are easy to search and use. This particular dataset is for Officers only, but hopefully it will be followed for the lower ranks. When researching ancestors who might have been in the Home Guard bear in mind that initially they were known as the LDV, Local Defence Volunteers.

A typical entry will give

Name

Rank

Unit

Nationality

Gallantry Awards

Duty Location

Resided Town & County

When joined Home Guard

Forces War Records is the only website to offer this dataset and I am sure it will generate a lot of interest amongst genealogists. I must say that the more I look at Forces War Records the more I find to like about the site. It’s easy to use and the cross matching with information about Regiments, Bases and Ships adds valuable background history. The site has records dating back to 1350.

About Me

History, particularly Family History is my passion. I have worked in libraries & archives, I teach family history, conduct workshops and give genealogy presentations. It seemed a shame to have all this knowledge & experience and not share it with others, so this website was born.